Fall is almost here, y’all! Kids are back at school, the air will start getting crisp, and all things will be flavored pumpkin spice. Before my eldest goes to school, I like to make sure he’s had a filling breakfast that will keep him going until lunch. We all know how great oatmeal is for you, but did you know that steel cut oats are actually even better? They’re less processed and have a chewier texture that makes them feel more like a meal and less like something you’d feed your horse. I have been making Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal for months, mostly because I can start it while my coffee brews and then come back after my devotional, shower, and getting dressed and have breakfast ready to go for when the boys wake up, with little to no effort. Instant Pot steel cut oats for fall, in my head, means they need something spicy, something pumpkin-y, something pecan-y, and maybe something chai-y. As a result, Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal for fall would also be SUPER comforting and warm– everything you want for a fall breakfast.
I’ve come up with not one fall Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe, but four. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get better than having apple pie, pecan pie, or pumpkin pie for BREAKFAST, but the Chai Tea Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal recipe is pretty dynamite, too. It’s a little spicy, a little sweet, and a whole lot of comforting. The pie Instant Pot steel cut oats recipes, though, taste just like your grandma made them, but they won’t give you a sugar high first thing in the morning. Plus, they’re super pretty to serve on a Thanksgiving morning as a good breakfast to hold you over until halftime (not that we plan our Thanksgiving dinner around the Cowboys game or anything).
Honestly, the best part about these recipes is how easy they are to make. It makes our mornings go so much smoother. Thanks to the fact that they’re super yummy, I don’t even have to fight my kids to eat breakfast– in fact, half the time, I’m telling them they have to finish up their third helping so we can get out the door! They don’t have meat in them, which means I have time to remember it’s Friday before blowing the whole no-meat-on-Fridays thing we Catholics do.
If you’re looking for a little something to put on the side of your oatmeal (and you’re not vegan), make a batch of Instant Pot boiled eggs on Sunday and they’ll be ready for you all week long! Seriously, they’re the easiest thing EVER to make and they peel like a DREAM.
All of my Instant Pot steel cut oats recipes for fall start off with a classic Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe, and then have other things added. So, I’ve given you my normal, boring Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal recipe first (I usually add butter, cut up peaches, and brown sugar once it’s cooked and it’s YUMMY).
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats for Fall
Below, you’ll find all the fall versions of my Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal!
Ingredients
- 2.5 c water
- 1 c oats
- 1/2 t salt
- 1 c unsweetened applesauce
- 1 large apple, peeled and cut
- 1/2 t ground cardamom
- 1 t cinnamon
- 1/4 brown sugar
Instructions
- Pour the steel cut oats into your Instant Pot.
- Add the other ingredients and stir well, making sure the water is all through the oats.
- Set to manual, high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Allow to natural pressure release.
- Stir to incorporate the water floating on top and make it the perfect texture.
Ingredients
- 2 c water
- 1 c steel cut oats
- 1/2 t salt
- 1 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 2 t chai spice
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/2 t ground cinnamon)
- 1/8 c maple syrup
Instructions
- Pour the steel cut oats into your Instant Pot before adding the water, salt, almond milk, chai spice, vanilla extract, and cinnamon stick.
- Stir well, making sure the water is in through all the oats.
- Set to manual, high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Allow to natural pressure release.
- Add in the maple syrup and stir to incorporate the syrup and water floating on top.
Ingredients
- 1 c steel cut oats
- 2.5 c water
- 1 c pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 t cinnamon
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/4 t nutmeg
- 1/4 t ground cloves
- 1/2 t vanilla extract
- Pumpkin seeds, optional
Instructions
- Pour the steel cut oats into your Instant Pot before adding the other ingredients.
- Stir well, making sure the water is in through all the oats.
- Set to manual, high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Allow to natural pressure release.
- Stir up to incorporate the water floating on top and make it the perfect texture.
- Top with pumpkin seeds and serve!
Ingredients
- 1 c steel cut oats
- 2 c water
- 12 oz can evaporated skim milk (we use coconut)
- 1/4 c brown sugar
- 1/2 t salt
- Pecans, chopped, to taste
- Maple syrup, optional
Instructions
- Pour the steel cut oats into your Instant Pot before adding the water, milk, brown sugar, and salt.
- Stir well, making sure the water is in through all the oats.
- Set to manual, high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Allow to natural pressure release.
- Stir up to incorporate the water floating on top before spooning into bowls.
- Drizzle some maple syrup over each bowl and top with pecans!

[…] I make dinner on Sunday, I also have 2 cups of steel cut oatmeal going in the Instant Pot for breakfasts that week (steel cut oatmeal reheats beautifully and we […]